The Sierra Leone Football Association is in turmoil following a dramatic intervention by its President, Thomas Daddy Brima, who has ordered the suspension of the ongoing electoral process, citing “gross violations” of the SLFA Statutes and Electoral Code.
In a strongly worded letter dated July 19 and addressed to the Acting General Secretary, Brima expressed grave concerns over what he described as a series of procedural and legal breaches by both the Electoral Committee and the Ethics Committee. The development comes just a day after the Ethics Board disqualified Brima himself and fellow presidential contender Aminata Bangura from contesting in the August 2, 2025 Elective Congress.
Brima alleges that the Ethics Board’s decision was made in violation of Article 68 of the SLFA Ethics Code, which requires rulings to be “properly reasoned and formally communicated.” He further accused the Electoral Committee of failing to meet mandatory deadlines, including the timely publication of the final list of qualified candidates, and of failing to conduct proper hearings for electoral appeals.
“The integrity checks, which are mandatory prior to the conduct of elections, have not been conducted,” Brima’s letter stated, adding that this constitutes a “clear breach” of Article 60(3) of the SLFA Statutes.
He also raised alarm over the improper appointment of members of the Electoral Committee, stating that the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson were not elected by Congress as required by Article 60(5) of the SLFA Statutes, thus calling into question the legitimacy of the entire committee.
Brima has called on FIFA and CAF to urgently investigate the “gravity and multiplicity” of the alleged violations and has instructed the Acting General Secretary to place the electoral process on hold pending further directives from football’s global and continental governing bodies.
The latest developments have deepened divisions within Sierra Leone’s football leadership and cast a shadow over the credibility of the upcoming elections. Critics argue that Brima’s objections may be self-serving, given his disqualification by the Ethics Board for allegedly submitting falsified documents and failing integrity checks.
Nonetheless, the President’s decision to suspend the process, effectively freezing the roadmap just weeks before the elective congress, is likely to provoke a sharp response from stakeholders.
As the standoff escalates, all eyes now turn to FIFA and CAF for guidance on whether the electoral process can proceed or if Sierra Leone’s football will once again be plunged into crisis.
